Fast Fiction: Grudge
Richard Mallinson’s tale reveals a very good reason for fisticuffs.
To read more of Richard's fast fiction please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/fast_fiction/
'What was all that about?'
'Oh, nothing much. Just a little dispute.'
'Dispute? You were knocking hell out of him.'
'Well, some things are best settled with fists, once and for all.'
'Are you sure it'll be once and for all? He may bear a grudge.'
'Bear a grudge? Vern Stokes? No, never. He's not the type.'
*
'How many stitches did you need?'
‘About twenty I think.’
'Good lord, what happened?'
'It was Vern Stokes. You were right about him - he did bear a grudge. Caught me off guard, I'm afraid.'
'So what are you going to do? I mean, this could go on for months. First you have a go at him, then he has a go at you and . . . it's absurd.'
'Well, I'll not be the one who backs down.'
*
'So are you satisfied, now that you're inside?'
'Hm, thanks for coming to visit me... I still say it was accidental. I didn't mean to ... Anyway, he definitely provoked me.'
'Never mind that... Let me tell you something - most people find it utterly incredible that a senior detective should have thrown his career away for the sake of a stupid feud with a minor villain . . . And let me tell you something else - your wife is seeing quite a lot of Vern Stokes -'
'Oh, is she now? . . . Well, she's always rather fancied him.'
